The force's assistant chief officer, Lynne Potts, said it took all such reports seriously and measures were in place to secure property, equipment and vehicles.

The request to every force in the UK revealed thieves had taken warrant cards, bikes, riot shields, a battering ram and breathalysers.

Among the more unusual stolen items were a small fridge from Dunstable, CCTV footage and a TV from West Oxfordshire, a packet of crumpets from Priory Road police station in Hull and a fern and plastic plant pot from Lancashire Police.

Opportunist theft

A £20 mannequin was stolen from Essex Police's kennels at Epping, a 20-pack of toilet rolls vanished from West Mercia, while at Pontefract police station, in West Yorkshire, a thief made off with a £48 tea float.

The Taxpayers' Alliance, which campaigns for greater efficiency within publicly-funded organisations, said security seemed to have been compromised at some stations and called for an investigation.

"The list of stolen items is truly astonishing and taxpayers will worry that police giving out crime prevention advice can't seem to avoid being robbed themselves," said director Emma Boon.